By MANABU KITAGAWA/ Staff Writer
November 6, 2024 at 07:00 JST
One of the nine wooden seated statues of Amida Nyorai at Joruriji temple in Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture. They are designated as national treasures by the central government. (Manabu Kitagawa)
KIZUGAWA, Kyoto Prefecture--It may not be as well-known as Kyoto but Kizugawa is also home to loads of historical temples and sites, including six national treasures and 46 important cultural properties.
That’s because Kizugawa became the center of politics in Japan when Emperor Shomu established the capital of Kunikyo in 740.
But Kizugawa is off the beaten track, causing overseas visitors to gripe about poor public transport and difficulties in reaching many places of interest.
Taking matters into its own hands, Uji-based Ocha no Kyoto DMO has started operating a Jumbo Taxi service to help meet the needs of tourists to the city in the southern prefecture.
Offered by reservation only on weekends and holidays until Nov. 30, the nine-seater taxi takes visitors on tours around the city starting from JR Kizu Station.
For instance, a tour to five temples that starts at 9 a.m. costs 8,000 yen ($52), which includes entrance charges, lunch and tax.
The temples include Joruriji, which is known for the nine wooden seated statues of Amida Nyorai created during the Heian Period (794-1185) and designated as national treasures, and Kaijusenji temple, home to the national treasure-designated five-story pagoda from the Kamakura Period (1185-1333).
"We also want to operate the Jumbo Taxi service in and after April," a city official said.
Illumination events are planned at Gansenji temple from Nov. 15-17 and at Kaijusenji temple from Nov. 22-24.
In addition, Joruriji and Gansenji will be open to the public for special nighttime viewing events on Jan. 13, 2025.
A special bus service is also available on weekends and holidays until Nov. 30 to attract visitors from Nara.
The bus leaves JR Nara Station’s west exit for Gansenji via Joruriji, running six services a day. Of them, three services take passengers to a bus stop about a 40-minute walk from Kaijusenji.
Visit Ocha no Kyoto DMO’s official website at (https://ochanokyoto.jp/).
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